Method and apparatus for extracting phenols from a wood barrel

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for extracting phenols from a wood barrel whereby one or more of the wood barrels filled with a distilled spirit or wine are placed inside a container to which a gas transfer system is connected. The gas transfer system is provided with a pumping means for removing air from the cavity, filling the cavity with a gas, pressurizing the cavity with the gas, and reducing the pressure of the cavity. Means are provided for controlling the distilled spirit or wine evacuating from and absorbing and impregnating the porous structures of the wood barrel.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A method of extracting phenols from a wood barrel comprising the steps of:
 a) placing one or more said wood barrels inside a container;   b) enclosing said wood barrel in said container which serves to define a cavity;   c) removing air from said cavity;   d) filling said cavity with gas;   e) pressurizing said cavity with said gas to a prescribed pressure sufficient to urge a distilled spirit or a wine in said wood barrel to evacuate porous structures of said wood barrel;   f) allowing a duration of time sufficient for said distilled spirit or said wine in said wood barrel to evacuate said porous structures of said wood barrel;   g) reducing said pressure of said cavity to a prescribed pressure sufficient to urge said distilled spirit or said wine in said wood barrel to absorb into and impregnate said porous structures of said wood barrel;   h) allowing a duration of time sufficient for said distilled spirit or said wine in said wood barrel to absorb into and impregnate said porous structures of said wood barrel;   i) repeating the method from step e) for a number of prescribed cycles   j) allowing said cavity to attain ambient pressure;   k) opening said container; and   l) removing said wood barrel from said container.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  whereby said pressurizing said cavity with said gas is at a rate and controlling said rate such that said rate at which said pressure rises in said container during said pressurizing is sufficiently slow as to allow said distilled spirit or said wine in said wood barrel to evacuate said porous structures of said wood barrel. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  whereby reducing said pressure of said cavity is at a rate and controlling said rate such that said rate at which said pressure is reduced in said cavity is sufficiently slow as to allow said distilled spirit or said wine in said wood barrel to impregnate said porous structures of said wood barrel. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for extracting said phenols from said wood barrel comprising; said container to place, support, and enclose said wood barrel, a gas transfer system connected to said container, said gas transfer system comprising a framework incorporating a plurality of valves, a plurality of pumps, a gas reservoir, a gas tank, and two pressure transducers, comprising a means for pumping said air from said container, said air from said gas reservoir, said gas to said container, said gas from said container, said gas to said gas reservoir, and said gas from said gas reservoir, and means for transferring said gas from said gas tank to said gas reservoir.